FILIPINO ATHLETES COMPETING ABROAD
NEED CONTINUOUS GOV'T SUPPORT

Senator Edgardo J. Angara reiterated his call on the government to provide Filipino athletes with adequate support as more than 500 Filipino participants prepare to leave for the 26th Southeast Asian Games to be held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from November 11 to 22.

"Filipino athletes bring us great pride from international sporting events despite our country's great lack in sports infrastructure and policies," said Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture.

The veteran lawmaker authored Senate Bill No. 48, "An Act Creating the Philippine Sports University, and for Other Purposes" early in the 15th Congress. Also known as the Philippine Sports University Act of 2010, it seeks the creation of an institution to oversee the welfare of our athletes, ensuring world-class training and development.

"As legislators, we have the opportunity to shape the future of Philippine sports by creating policies that would provide our athletes with the support they need," explained Angara. "This would ensure that the raw talent and skill innate of Filipino athletes are honed by world-class trainers and coaches," he said.

Angara also sponsored the measure seeking to create the Philippine High School for Sports originally authored by Senator Pia Cayetano, who is an athlete herself.

This measure proposes the establishment of public high schools geared towards molding young athletes, similar in structure to the Philippine High School for the Arts.

"As a nation, we are very passionate about sports. We must therefore build a sports culture so that our athletes have the opportunities to grow into the champions that they have the potential to be," said Angara.